Attraction of Kashgar Abakh Khoja Tomb

Kashgar Abakh Khoja Tomb (or Tomb of Xiangfei ): Located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) northeast of the city of Kashgar, it served as the family tomb of Abakh Khoja, the powerful ruler of Kashgar in the 17th century who was revered as a prophet and second only to Mohammed. First built in 1640, all five generations of the family are buried within. There were 72 tombs until an earthquake destroyed some. The first generation buried here was Yusuf Hoja, a celebrated Islam missionary. After he died, his eldest son Apak Hoja died in 1693, buried here and his reputation was greater than his father's, so the tomb was renamed "Abakh Khoja Tomb".

The Tomb of Xiangfei is the most magnificent tomb in Kashgar, filled with history and symbolism. The tomb is commonly known among Chinese as the Tomb of Xiangfei, a Qing Dynasty Uigur woman who was seized by the Qing and forced to marry the Qianlong Emperor. However, the tomb is actually the tomb of her grandfather Bakh Hoja and his family (including Xiangfei).

Xiangfei, whose name means "Fragrant Concubine" is a great symbol to both the Uigur and Han peoples for different reasons. The Uigur see her as a Uigur herione and the Han people see her as heroine of anti-Qing and anti-feudal sentiment. Nevertheless, after Xiangfei died, which according to reports was a forced suicide ordered by the jealous Empress Dowager, her body was carried back to Abakh Hoja Tomb in Kashgar over a tedious three-year journey.

The different buildings include Tomb Hall, Doctrine-Teaching Hall and Great Hall of Prayer. The Tomb Hall, with a 17-meter- (55.8-foot) diameter dome is covered with glazed green tiles. Inside the hall, tombs decorated with beautiful flower patterns on a white background, glittering, simple and elegant are settled on a high terrace. The legend goes that among those, a tomb known as the Xiang Fei (Fragrant Concubine) Tomb is in memory of Abakh Khoja's grand-daughter, Iparhan. She was the Fragrant Concubine of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing period and was called Xiangfei because of the delicate fragrance sent forth by her body. Upon her death 120 people spent three years carrying her coffin back to Kashgar and buried here.